Pilgrimage
Stage Reading Event: November 13–16, 2026 at the The Lab at Georgetown University
This is an opportunity to get to know the play, the playwrights — Humaira Ghilzai and Bridgette Dutta Portman — and the director, Khaled Abol Naga (Kal), ahead of an east coast premiere. We welcome actors who are curious, collaborative, and excited to engage with this world.
"I see five women who each have a different relationship to faith — the devout, the lapsed, the convert, the skeptic, the seeker — and yet the sacred space equalizes them. Mecca strips away every identity they've built. What I want audiences to feel is that the Kaaba is not the destination; the truth is. And the question the play leaves us with is whether forgiveness is something God grants, or something we have to grant each other and to ourselves."
— Khaled Abol Naga, Director1801 35th St NW
Washington, DC 20007
The Lab at Georgetown University
Nov 13 · Rehearsal 6–9pm
Nov 14–15 · Rehearsals 1–6pm
Nov 16 · Rehearsal 3–5pm · Actor call 7pm · Reading 7:30–9:45pm (incl. intermission)
Compensation for the reading: $350
This play centers Afghan American Muslim women in one of the most sacred spaces in the world. For the characters of Noor, Maryam, Nadia and Sosan we are looking for actors of Afghan heritage or greater Middle Eastern descent. Actors do not need to be Afghan or Muslim, but a genuine curiosity about and respect for Afghan culture, Islamic ritual (Umrah, Tawaf, Ihram, Rawdah, Talbiyah), and Dari language phrases is essential. Coaching will be available. Lived or studied familiarity will serve the work deeply.
or visit: Kalnaga.com/pilgrimage/
casting.html
The emotional center of the play. A woman of deep faith carrying a devastating secret. Warm, matriarchal, and controlling in equal measure — her religiosity is genuine but also a shield. Afghan dialect in spoken English is an important part of this role. Familiarity with Islamic prayer gestures and Dari phrases are a plus.
Noor's daughter. A Silicon Valley CEO — polished, driven, and spiritually disconnected until she isn't. Her arc is the most surprising in the play. Carries the pressure of being her mother's "miracle child." American English with some Dari words. Cultural fluency with Afghan family dynamics are a plus.
Noor's niece and Maryam's cousin. Devout, anxious, and quietly carrying her own transformation. A woman whose faith and personal life are in deep contradiction. American English with some Dari words. Cultural fluency with Afghan family dynamics are a plus.
Nadia's estranged sister. A New York artist and non-believer — the outsider in the group who holds the biggest secret. Dry, perceptive, and more tender than she lets on. American English with some Dari words. Cultural knowledge of Afghan family dynamics preferred.
A Muslim convert and Nadia's best friend since high school. The most theologically grounded woman in the group and the moral compass of the play — while quietly managing her own profound journey of identity. No accent required. Strong familiarity with Islamic practices. First hand or familiarity with convert experience is a plus.
Download the official sides for all five roles. Each side is selected to reveal character and range within 1–2 minutes.
⬇ Download Casting Sides (PDF)Sides include a slate instruction, director's note, and scene context for each character.
Format: MP4 (H.264) · Orientation: Horizontal / Landscape only
Resolution: 1080p preferred · 720p minimum
Max file size: 500MB · Max length: 2 minutes (incl. slate)
File name: LASTNAME_FIRSTNAME_ROLE.mp4
Slate: Start by looking into camera — state your name, pronouns, role, and city.
Submit Your Application
Complete all fields marked *. Applications reviewed on a rolling basis. Deadline: October 15, 2026.
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Thank you for submitting.
We have received your application for Pilgrimage.
You will be contacted directly if we would like to schedule a follow-up.
— Kal & the Pilgrimage team